Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena [The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena]

By: Elsa Joubert

Narrated by: Theresa Cloete

Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena het by verskyning in November 1978 die gemoed van die hele land beroer. Binne vier maande is dit drie keer herdruk. Dit is in 1979 met die Luyt-, die CNA- en die W.A. Hofmeyr-prys bekroon. In 1981 is dit deur die Royal Society of Literature in Londen aangewys as die beste streekroman wat in Engels verskyn het; Elsa Joubert word ook ‘n Fellow van die Society. Sedertdien is die roman vertaal in Frans, Spaans, Duits, Nederlands en Italiaans. In 1985 het ‘n Amerikaanse uitgawe verskyn.

Hoë lof is van kritici ontvang. Audrey Blignault het die betekenis van die roman só saamgevat: "n Aangrypende, onvergeetlike boek wat die sluier tussen die witmens en die swartmens in Suid-Afrika afruk." André P. Brink het dit in Rapport as die boek van die jaar in die Afrikaanse prosa uitgesonder: "'n Visioen van menslike gevangeneskap... Ontstemmend en indrukwekkend... Verpligte literatuur vir elke mens wat oor hierdie land wil saampraat. "Oorsee het die gesaghebbende Sunday Times Literary Supplement ‘n entoesiastiese bespreking van die roman geplaas. En The Times se resensent skryf: "(The novel) unfolds with the inexorable force of a Greek tragedy."

As voorhoogstuk was Poppie eweneens suksesvol. Dit is in sowel Afrikaans as Engels landwyd opgevoer. In New York is dit eers in ‘n eksperimentele teater aangebied; daarna het dit as Off Broadway-opvoering die Obi-toekenning verwerf vir die beste dramateks. Dit is gekies vir die Edinburgh-toneelfees, en later ook in Londen opgevoer, waar Thuli Dumakude as Poppie die gesogte Olivier-prys verower het. Vervolgens is dit opgevoer in Australië, Kanada en Chicago.

Die skryfster self sê oor dié suksesverhaal: "Die lewe van die werklike Poppie het my diep geraak, en my beklem. Hier was ‘n vrou, magteloos vasgevang in ‘n onmenslike sisteem, wat veg vir die bestaan van haar gesin. Deur die boek wou ek aan haar ‘n stem gee."

Please note: This audiobook is in Afrikaans.

©1978 Elsa Joubert (P)2014 NB Publishers

Heartfelt Afrikaans narration of a key South African literary text

The narrator put her heart and soul into reading the story of Poppie Nongena. This really was a labour of love. I was drawn into this bittersweet tale of the life and times of a dutiful Xhosa mother who, despite her best efforts, gets pulled into the madhouse of life under apartheid. Poppie is a heroine who keeps her dignity, despite the harsh circumstances that are thrust on her by a dark period of South African history. She is a shining example of how to face adversity. And her story functions a warning as to what happens when we fail each other as human beings.

A personal look into the horrors of Apartheid

Would you listen to Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena [The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena] again? Why?

No! it's just so sad! Don't get me wrong - it's a great book. But it's really depressing, all the more so because it is true.

What did you like best about this story?

This is an interesting story in that it is historical non-fiction that kind of reads as fiction, but when it was written it was more political contemporary as it was written during the same era as the events in the book. Now, with the benefit of many years since the events, the readers has access to greater perspectives on the events and other concurrent occurrences at the same time as Poppie's journeys. So from an analytical and historic point of view, this is a true gem.

Who was the most memorable character of Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena [The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena] and why?

It has to be the main protagonist, Poppie herself. During this epic she is a dynamic, growing character. It is remarkable seeing her becoming aware of the oppression she faces, and no longer accepting it.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook is in Afrikaans, the original language of the book. I wish there was one available in English, because I would highly recommend it.

Openbaring uit d geskiedenis

Dit is slegs my 2de oudio boek. Ek is deel vd geskiedenis wat hier afspeel...gebore 1947. Ek was 30 toe dié storie eindig. Gebore in d Wes kaap, het ek 35 jr in Transvaal gewerk, tot met die demokratiese verkiesing.
Die verhaal met sy swaarkry laat my besef dat hier groot onmenslikheid plaasgevind het. Ek sal my deel vd regstelling moet aanvaar, want ek het voordeel getrek. Mag d Hemelse Vader ons tyd gee om beter saam te lewe.
Dank aan d skrywer, wat afgelope maand oorlede is.
29 Julie 2020

isiXhosa Pronunciation Detracts from Authenticity

I read this magnificent story in English some years ago and listened to the Afrikaans audiobook only now. The story remains heartbreaking.

I feel the narrator should have learnt the most basic isiXhosa pronunciation to do justice to the text. It was disturbing to have to listen to the same mispronounced words, like “ikira”, over and over. I am a native Afrikaans speaker, isiXhosa is my third language and it bothered me. There really is no excuse for such a failure.